High School Notebook: After committing to Boston College, Millis' Baker weighs options

Millis junior interior lineman Jon Baker verbally committed to Boston College last Saturday, yet it’s hardly the last decision he’ll make before he packs his bags for Chestnut Hill. It’s when he’s going to be doing the packing.

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

Posted Apr. 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 28, 2013 at 3:31 AM

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

Posted Apr. 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 28, 2013 at 3:31 AM

» Social News

Jon Baker made his college choice last weekend, a national pursuit of his blocking skills culminating when he picked the school up the Pike rather than national names like Michigan State or Stanford.

Baker verbally committed to Boston College last Saturday, (likely) bringing an end to a courtship of Baker that’s lasted over a year. The Millis High junior interior lineman is joining the school that’s been known as ‘O-Line U.’

Yet it’s hardly the last decision he’ll make before he packs his bags for Chestnut Hill. He still has to figure out when he’s going to be doing the packing.

Baker is considering graduating early from Millis in December and enrolling at BC for the second semester in 2014. That would allow him to get into the Eagles’ weight room and on the field for spring practice, making it a possibility he’ll be on the field in just 17 months when BC opens the 2014 season.

A lot has to happen before then. First is figuring out what he’d have to do academically.

"I’m looking into it, just logistically if it’ll work," Baker said. "Really just the requirements, like four years of English. Might have to take a class over the summer."

There are potential downsides to reporting early. New BC coach Steve Addazio relayed the cautionary tale of his son Louie, a tight end who enrolled early at Syracuse and has since transferred to BC.

"Coach Addazio talked about his own personal experience with it," Millis-Hopedale coach Dale Olmsted said. "His son went into Syracuse early I think two years ago, so he was the only one early. Here you are, you’re not with anybody, you’re in Syracuse, which is not a good place to be in the winter. You can get lonely.

"(Steve Addazio) would not recommend that everyone do it. He would recommend that you look at it and decide what’s best."

Physically Baker — a three-star recruit, according to Rivals.com — appears ready for the ACC. At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, he’s already comparable to many of the behemoths he’ll face from Florida State and Clemson. It’s the challenge of playing against those players on a weekly basis that will be his challenge, Rivals.com recruiting analyst Mike Farrell says.

"Right now he’s blocking kids that aren’t even close to what he’s facing in college," said Farrell, who covers the mid-Atlantic region and has watched many of Baker’s games from the last two seasons on tape. "He’ll have to get used to the grinding game of a college football game. Not really get stronger or bigger — I don’t think physically he’s not ready. I think it’s more the mental side of it and getting ready for it."

Page 2 of 2 - Farrell says most offensive linemen benefit from redshirting as a freshman, but after several poor recruiting classes have left the Eagles shallow up front, they may have need of Baker as a true freshman.

"You would prefer to redshirt all your offensive linemen, but I think BC needs to change the temperament of their offensive line," Farrell said. "They were 0-Line U back in the Matt Ryan days and before. (Baker) could play quickly."

Baker picked BC over Michigan State, Stanford, Harvard and Yale. He was also offered by UMass, UConn and Rutgers.

In addition to citing the mix of strong academic reputation, playing in a BCS conference, and being close to home, Baker and Olmsted cited Addazio’s history as an offensive line coach as a factor in selecting BC.

"Addazio and his staff have taken (his recruitment) to another level," Olmsted said. "There’s a lot of excitement there, new coach, new AD. Addazio’s a former offensive line coach at Florida. You’ve got a young coach, a young offensive line coach there in Coach (Justin) Frye.

"If you’re a young lineman, that’s kind of a place to go. O-line coaches are a certain breed. They’re tough, but very likable as well. I think Jon really likes the fact that Coach Addazio, that he really sees the value of an offensive lineman."

Wrestlers pair up

There could be a new wrestling team in the Tri-Valley League next winter.

Bellingham and Medway are working on a co-op that would go into effect next season. The Blackhawks have had a program for years, but have had fewer students go out in recent years, dropping as low as 10 this winter.

Medway is expected to provide 5-8 wrestlers in the first year to go with Bellingham’s 8-10 athletes.

The co-op was unanimously approved by the TVL athletic directors Thursday morning. The Bellingham administration and school committee have approved the move; Medway AD Robert Pearl is seeking the same on his end. Assuming it passes, Bellingham AD Leo Dalpe will apply to the MIAA District C Committee. …

Franklin honored Kristi Kirshe on Thursday with a ceremony for being named Gatorade Player of the Year for girls soccer. They also unveiled the banner from the Panthers’ undefeated state championship season last fall.

Kirshe scored 39 goals last season and Franklin went 22-0-1. Kirshe, who also plays basketball and lacrosse, will play soccer in the fall at Williams College. …

Milford senior Mike Tracy was named to the Massachusetts All-Academic Basketball Team by the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association.

Dan Cagen can be reached at 508-626-3848 or dcagen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanCagen.